When toll lanes at Highway 237 and I-880 become too popular, paying drivers are booted out

By Gary Richards grichards@mercurynews.com

Posted:
02/02/2014 08:06:46 PM PST

Updated:
02/02/2014 08:07:25 PM PST

Express lanes were supposed to ease congestion by letting solo drivers pay their way into the fast lane, but now they're becoming a victim of their own success -- by congesting the fast lane.

As a result, toll-paying drivers are being booted out of the express lane at Highway 237 and Interstate 880 for as much as an hour a day in an attempt to make the fast lane fast again.

Those willing to pay as much as $5 to speed through one of the Bay Area's most gridlocked interchanges are irritated to see signs consigning them to the slow lanes, saying it adds 15 to 20 minutes to their commute.

"It is frustrating," grumbled Jonathan Quist, of Pleasanton, who has used the toll lanes since they opened in 2012. "The times that it says 'HOV ONLY' seem pretty arbitrary and unpredictable."

With the Bay Area economy improving, increased afternoon traffic has turned northbound 880 into a mess between 237 and Mission Boulevard. So far, it hasn't been so bad in the morning going in the other direction, or on the Bay Area's only other express lane, on I-680 south along the Sunol Grade.

But when speeds drop below 45 mph in the eastbound 237 express lane, or traffic jams up downstream on northbound I-880, the toll is raised to $5. If that fails to unclog the problem, the ban on solo drivers goes into place.

Federal rules require that traffic in diamond lanes go at least 45 mph, for fear that lower speeds would discourage carpooling and make congestion worse.

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Electronic signs flash an "HOV ONLY" message, meaning only high-occupancy vehicles of two or more people. Motorcyclists and those with certain alternative fuel vehicles can continue to use the lanes for free.

"A reversion to HOV-only operation is not unexpected," said John Goodwin of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. "It certainly can be expected to come up again, whether on the 880-237 express lanes or elsewhere."

Despite the hiccups, the popularity of paying a toll to beat traffic is surging. There are roughly 3,000 first-time FasTrak users each month in the express lanes at 237-880 and as many as 14,000 repeat toll-paying customers overall a month, an increase of 4,000 in less than two years.

The growing number of FasTrak users means more money that can be spent on road improvements. The Valley Transportation Authority is on pace to rake in $1.2 million this fiscal year in tolls, up from $1 million last year. This money could be used to extend the express lanes farther west on 237.

Nearly 300 miles of toll lanes are coming to the Bay Area by the end of the decade. Express lanes will open on I-580 next year, and they could be in use by 2020 on Highway 101, Highway 85, I-880 and I-80, as well as approaches to the San Mateo and Dumbarton bridges. Much of I-680 could get express lanes after that.

Where there is room, a second carpool lane may be built to handle both carpoolers and paying customers. That's the plan on 101 and on a segment of 85 between Highway 87 and I-280.

Transportation officials have begun discussing a second carpool lane at 237-880, but that would be years down the road.

Kathy Hair, of Alamo, notes glumly that to her, the cutoff of the pay lane means an extra 20 minutes on the road.